Mid City, Los Angeles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mid City
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Mid City neighborhood sign
located at the intersection of La Brea Avenue and the Santa Monica Freeway |
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 Mid City
Location in Western Los Angeles
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| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  California |
| County |  Los Angeles |
| Time zone | Pacific |
| Zip Code |
90016 & 90019
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| Area code(s) | 323 |
Mid City (also called Mid-City) is a neighborhood in Central Los Angeles, California. It's a busy and diverse area with lots to see and do.
One cool spot is the post office named after the famous singer Ray Charles. He even had his recording studio right here in Mid City! The neighborhood is also home to many schools and might get a new train line, the K Line, in the future.
Contents
Exploring Mid City's Location
Mid City is a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. It has clear boundaries that help people know where it starts and ends.
How the City Defines Mid City
The City of Los Angeles has put up special signs to mark the Mid City area. You can see these signs at several big intersections. They help drivers and visitors know when they are entering this neighborhood.
These signs are located at places like Hoover Street and Washington Boulevard, and also at La Brea Avenue and the Santa Monica Freeway.
Mid City on Google Maps
If you look at Google Maps, you'll see "Mid City" marked out. It generally stretches from Hoover Street in the east to La Cienega Boulevard in the west. To the north, it's near Olympic Boulevard, and the Santa Monica Freeway forms its southern edge.
Mid City Boundaries by the Los Angeles Times
The Mapping L.A. project by the Los Angeles Times also describes Mid City's borders. It says the neighborhood is bordered by Pico Boulevard to the north and the Santa Monica Freeway to the south.
Mid City is surrounded by other neighborhoods. These include Carthay to the north, Culver City to the south, and Beverlywood to the west.
Ballona Creek in Mid City
Ballona Creek is a waterway that flows through Mid City. There are three bridges in the neighborhood that cross over this creek. You can find them at Hauser Boulevard, Burnside Avenue, and Thurman Avenue.
People and Life in Mid City
Mid City is a lively place with many people calling it home. In 2000, about 52,197 people lived here. This means it's a pretty busy area, with many people living close together. By 2008, the population grew even more to about 55,016 residents.
A Diverse Community
Mid City is known for being a very diverse neighborhood. This means people from many different backgrounds and cultures live here. In 2000, a large number of residents were from Latino and African American backgrounds.
Many people living in Mid City were born outside the United States. Mexico and El Salvador were the most common birthplaces for these residents. This mix of cultures makes Mid City a unique and interesting place to live.
Homes in Mid City
Most homes in Mid City are rented, with about 68.9% of housing units occupied by renters. The rest are owned by people or families. The average household size is about 2.8 people, which is typical for Los Angeles.
Smaller Neighborhoods Inside Mid City
Mid City is a large area that includes several smaller, unique neighborhoods. Each of these smaller areas has its own special feel and history.
- Reynier Village: This village is home to the historic Rocha House, which is a very old and important building in Los Angeles.
- Lafayette Square: This is a historic neighborhood with a special gate. The city has protected it as a historic area since 2000.
- Brookside
- Crestview
- Little Ethiopia: This area is known for its Ethiopian culture and restaurants.
- Picfair Village
- Faircrest Heights
- La Cienega Heights
- Wellington Square
- Victoria Park
- Arlington Heights
Getting Around Mid City
Mid City has a long history with different ways of transportation, from old electric trains to modern buses and future rail plans.
Historic Electric Railways
In the early 1900s, Mid City was a very important place for electric trains. These trains were called "Yellow Cars" and "Red Cars."
The Rimpau Loop was a key turning point for the "Yellow Cars." City buses still use this spot today as a starting or ending point for their routes.
Vineyard Junction was where many "Red Car" lines met. These lines connected Downtown Los Angeles to places like Venice and Santa Monica. In 1913, there was an accident here, which led to important safety changes. After that, all new Pacific Electric trains were made of strong steel, and better signaling systems were put in place.
Transportation Today and Tomorrow
Today, the old Vineyard Junction site is a bus stop for the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus.
The Los Angeles County MTA plans to extend the K Line train. This new train line would have a station in Mid City, at Pico and San Vicente Boulevards. This is the same spot where the old Vineyard Junction used to be!
The K Line would make it easier for Mid City residents to reach other train lines. These include the D Line along Wilshire Boulevard and the E Line that goes to Downtown Santa Monica.
Currently, the Mid City part of the K Line is still being planned and needs funding. The DASH Midtown bus service also helps people get around the Mid City area.
Fun Places and Landmarks
Mid City has many interesting places to visit, from theaters to famous restaurants.
- Nate Holden Performing Arts Center: This center is a great place to watch plays and shows. It's home to the Ebony Repertory Theater Company.
- The Del Mar Theater: This old theater has a cool blue and yellow neon sign. It was lit up again in 2003 as part of a project to improve the Pico Boulevard area.
- The Comedy Union: If you love to laugh, this comedy club is the place to go! It features many talented comedians.
- Midtown Crossing: This is a large shopping area built where an old Sears store used to be. You can find many shops and places to eat here.
- The Mint: This music club has been around since 1937. Many famous musicians, like Macy Gray and Natalie Cole, have performed here.
- Beth Chayim Chadashim: This synagogue is important because it was the world's first synagogue for lesbian and gay people.
- Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles: This is a popular restaurant known for its delicious chicken and waffles.
- United States Post Office, Ray Charles Station: This post office was renamed in 2005 to honor the legendary singer Ray Charles.
Parks and Recreation
Mid City offers several parks and recreation spots where you can relax and have fun.
- Gladys Jean Wesson Park, located on S W Boulevard.
- Vineyard Recreation Center, found on Vineyard Avenue.
- Mascot Park, at Mascot Street and Pickford Street.
- Washington Irving Pocket Park, on W. Washington Boulevard.
- Eleanor Green Roberts Aquatic Center, an aquatic gym on W Pico Boulevard, perfect for swimming and water activities.
Schools in Mid City
Mid City has many schools for students of all ages. In 2000, about 16.8% of adults aged 25 and older had a four-year college degree, which is about average for the area.
Public Schools
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) runs several public schools in the neighborhood:
- Hamilton High School, on Robertson Boulevard.
- Saturn Street Elementary School, on Saturn Street.
- Los Angeles Senior High, on W Olympic Boulevard.
- Alta Loma Elementary School, on Vineyard Avenue.
- Shenandoah Street Elementary School, on Shenandoah Street.
- Virginia Road Elementary School, on Virginia Road.
- Marvin Avenue Elementary School, on S Marvin Avenue.
- Cienega Elementary School, on S Orange Drive.
- Futuro College Preparatory Elementary School, a LAUSD charter school on Rosemead Avenue.
- Crescent Heights Boulevard Elementary School, an alternative school on South Crescent Heights Boulevard.
- Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies, an alternative school on West 18th Street.
Other Schools
Community Magnet School, which focuses on arts and humanities, was in Mid City for about 25 years. It later moved to Bel-Air. Open Magnet Charter School was also once located here before moving to Westchester. Stella Middle Charter Academy is another charter school in the area.
Famous People from Mid City
Mid City has been home to several notable individuals over the years.
- Harold Harby: He was a member of the Los Angeles City Council for many years.
- Charles Bukowski: A well-known writer who lived in Mid City during different periods of his life.
- Earl Sweatshirt: A famous rapper, record producer, and songwriter.
- Blueface: A popular rapper who grew up in Mid City.
